How Often Should You Really Get a Massage?

This is a question I get asked a lot and there's no one-right answer. It all depends on your body, your pain, and your lifestyle. Here’s some information that I hope will help guide you.

For a lot of people, massage falls into one of two categories: something you do once you’re already in pain, or something that was nice that one time and then quietly disappeared under work, kids, life, etc...

The truth sits somewhere in the middle. Massage works best when it’s used intentionally, not just as an emergency button or a once-a-year treat. How often you should get a massage depends on whether you’re dealing with pain, recovering from an injury, or simply trying to maintain how your body feels.

When You’re Injured or in Pain

If you’re dealing with an injury or a specific acute pain issue, timing matters.

In most cases, it’s more effective and efficient to come back within one week of the initial treatment. That follow-up session builds on the progress already made instead of starting over. Depending on the issue and your pain level, you may need several follow-up sessions about a week apart if you want to see the most progress.

The goal is simple: don’t let your body backslide too far. When too much time passes between sessions, muscles tighten back up, compensation patterns return, and we’re essentially repeating the same work again and again. That’s frustrating for both the client and the massage therapist, slower, and honestly a waste of time and money.

Consistent therapeutic massage during injury recovery helps reduce pain, restore movement, and calm the nervous system so your body can actually heal instead of staying stuck in protection mode.

Maintenance Massage: Where Most People Land

Once pain is under control, maintenance massage is where the real long-term benefits show up.

For most people, a 2–4 week schedule works well. Some bodies do just fine stretching that out to every 6 weeks, especially if stress levels are lower and movement habits are solid. There’s no universal rule here. Everyone’s body responds differently.

Regular maintenance massage helps manage muscle tension and overall stress, improve mobility, support posture, and prevent small issues from turning into chronic pain. It’s less about fixing something that’s broken and more about keeping things working well.

Why Consistency Beats “As Needed”

One of the biggest benefits of regular massage is that your body learns how to relax faster. Muscles don’t have to be convinced every time. The nervous system recognizes the work and lets go more easily. There’s also a trust factor. As you work with the same licensed massage therapist over time, they get to know your body, your patterns, and your limits. Sessions become more efficient and more effective because the work is tailored to you, not figured out fresh every visit.

This is true whether you’re getting deep tissue massage, sports massage, or a more relaxing therapeutic session. Familiarity from both parties improves results.

A Small Tip That Makes a Big Difference

One simple recommendation: book your next appointment before you leave.

Not because you’re locked in forever, but because it keeps you accountable. You can always change it if needed, but having something on the calendar makes it far more likely you’ll stick to a regular schedule instead of letting life crowd it out.

Think of it as doing your future self a favor.

The Bottom Line

There’s no single “right” massage frequency. Injury recovery usually benefits from weekly sessions at first. Maintenance massage works well for most people every 2–4 weeks, with some flexibility based on your body and lifestyle.

Massage isn’t typically a one-time fix. It works best as part of a consistent approach to caring for your body, reducing pain, and staying mobile.

If you’re looking for therapeutic massage, deep tissue massage, or pain relief massage in Bountiful, Utah, our sessions are always customized based on your goals, pain level, and how your body responds over time.

Bodies change and life happens, but consistent care is what helps massage actually make a difference.